The race to protect our planet from asteroid impacts is on, and it's a critical mission that requires precision and expertise. In 2022, NASA's DART mission made history by testing a planetary defense system, but the real challenge lies in the future. Rahil Makadia, a recent PhD graduate in aerospace engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is leading the charge in understanding asteroid deflection. In this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast, Makadia shares his groundbreaking research on how we could deflect asteroids away from Earth. He emphasizes the importance of getting it right the first time, as his calculations reveal a potential flaw: a poorly deflected asteroid could return to Earth in the future. Makadia's recent paper, published in November, explores the concept of a 'keyhole' that could trap an asteroid, leading to its inevitable return. Despite the potential risks, Makadia offers a glimmer of hope. He points out that our current understanding of near-Earth asteroids suggests that no major collision will occur for at least 100 years. This means we have ample time to develop effective deflection strategies and technologies, ensuring our planet's safety for generations to come.
